Ivy League Play Resumes Saturday vs. Dartmouth

Lesley Kiger. (photo by Sam Rubin '95, Yale Sports Publicity)

Oct 17, 2009

Bulldogs Also Host Fairfield Sunday

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The Yale field hockey team
has hung with two top-10 teams in its last two games, earning votes
in the national poll in the process. The Bulldogs now look to bring
that same level of play to a crucial Ivy League game with Dartmouth
Saturday (noon) and a non-league meeting with Fairfield Sunday (2
p.m.). Both games are at Johnson Field.

In Yale's last Ivy League game, the Bulldogs handed Cornell its
first loss of the season. That opened up the chase for the title,
as 3-0 Princeton is the only remaining undefeated Ivy; Cornell,
Dartmouth and Yale are all 2-1. That adds urgency to Saturday's
showdown between the Bulldogs and the Big Green, as no team has
ever lost two league games and still won the league title.

The Yale offense continues to be led by senior forward
Ashley McCauley (Rye, N.Y.), who has eight goals
and one assist. Senior midfielder Katie Cantore (Hershey,
Pa.) is second in points with 12 -- all on assists,
putting her two away from the school record in that category.
Sophomore back Erin Carter (Perkiomenville, Pa.)
is now third in points after scoring four goals in the last five
games.

Yale (6-5-0, 2-1-0 Ivy League) could finish the season with as
many as 12 wins, which would be tied for third-most in school
history.

Dartmouth (6-6, 2-1 Ivy League) has been streaky; the Big Green
started the season 1-4 but has gone 5-2 since. Thanks to 21 saves
from Megan Vakiener the Big Green went down to the wire with No. 6
Syracuse in its last outing, falling 2-0. The Dartmouth attack
features two of the top scoring threats in the Ivy League. Forward
Kelly Hood is second in goals with 11 and points with 29, while
forward Kelly McHenry is second in assists with 10.

Yale is 19-2 all-time against Fairfield (4-9, 0-2 America East),
including four straight wins. Forward Marit Westenberg, a second
team All-America East selection last year, leads the Stags in
scoring with five goals. Caitlin O'Donnell has seen 763:31 of
action in goal and has a .661 save percentage.